Are you as curious as we are about the first-ever World Fringe Festival to hit Perth? Kicking off on Australia Day, the festival has invited over 800 local and international artists to perform in the festival’s 150 comedy, cabaret, theatre, fashion and musical events.

We’re especially excited about the Laneway Night Markets, happening this weekend. Over 45 stallholders will be setting up shop in Hook and Lock Lanes in Northbridge, in a weekend devoted to celebrating the kick-off of the festival, Chinese New Year and WA’s amazing local talent.

For the fashionistas, you’ll find stall upon stall selling one-of-a-kind clothing and accessories. Buy a hat from All The Pretty Ones Are, laser-cut jewellery from White Square, or an outfit from Freo-based label Wild.Horses. Or if op shopping is more your flavour, there are heaps of stalls selling vintage threads.

Then there are stalls selling art and home wares, which are sure to remind you of that gift you were meant to buy. Choose from screen prints, stationery, photographs, paintings, toys, flowers and stencil art.

If you’re interested in getting a bite to eat, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Grab some spicy tacos from La Cucaracha or a steaming plate of paella from Ole Paella. Finish it off with a visit to Jean Pierre Sancho, voted best bakery in Australia, for one of their unbelievably delicious macaroons. Or, if the heat is getting to you, pay a visit Delish Ice for a hand-made popsicle made from the season’s freshest produce.

Once you’re finished exploring, sit back and enjoy the free entertainment. Saturday night will see a performance by The Lost Circus – a three-person troupe whose act seeks to remind us of the circus’s long forgotten attractions. On Sunday night, shoppers will be treated to a live performance by the five-piece band Swingset.

(Also published in Agenda)

The owners of Perth’s upcoming small bar, The Classroom, are on a mission to remind us all of our long lost school days.

The Classroom is one part time-capsule and one part trendy small bar. Thanks to donations by local schools and some lucky finds on Ebay, the design pays tribute to school-day memories from the 70s and 80s: the walls are lined with dusty chalkboards, retro lunch boxes, gold embossed encyclopaedia sets, rusty pencil sharpeners and faded school satchels. Recycled wooden school desks and benches make for quirky tables, and the bar’s collection of spirits reside in a row of repurposed gym lockers. A one-of-a-kind mural by celebrated local graffiti artist Stormie Mills shows a sheepish-looking schoolchild under the repeated phrase “I must not draw on the walls”.

But while the bar’s unique fit out is a major draw card, the food and drinks on offer demonstrate the Classroom’s true creative strength. The drinks menu is divided into three “subjects”. The History drinks comprise old school cocktails with decidedly new school flair. For those who love experiments, the Science drinks come bubbling, smoking or aflame. And the Art cocktails are a marriage of colour, flavour and imagination. Naturally, wine and beer are also available. The food menu, on the other hand, is a cheeky – yet gourmet – spin on the canteen classics like mac and cheese, meat pie and the toastie.

Consider this a cheat sheet on the Classroom’s ordering process, which we think is half the fun:

Step #1: Sharpen your no. 2 pencil using the sharpener bolted to your desk
Step #2: Complete the multiple-choice “test” of your order
Step #3: Hand it in to one of the teachers (otherwise known as bartenders) who will give you a pencil case containing your order’s pager in return
Step #4: Bide your time by having a go at the ancient headphones playing beginner lessons in German and Italian
Step #5: Pick up your food from the canteen – don’t forget the tray!
Step #6: Reminisce about your long forgotten school days…. maybe they weren’t so bad after all.

Due to open mid-February it’s a little while off opening, but much like going back to school, we know you’ll need some time to prepare!

(Also published in Agenda)

With the temperatures soaring, many Perthites wait until the cool of evenings to venture out of doors. A favourite way to spend such an evening? At one of the city’s beloved outdoor cinemas. The season runs from December to April. So grab a blanket, pack a picnic and choose from one of our four favourites – just don’t forget the mozzie spray!

Lotterywest Festival Films at Somerville | More Info

The Lotterywest Festival Films, part of the annual Perth International Arts Festival, has taken place for the last half of a century at the University of Western Australia. Nestled amongst the pines are rows of canvas deck chairs and space for picnickers to spread a blanket. Food is for sale at the venue, but BYO food and drinks are allowed. This year, the films will be shown from 28 November to 15 April. Movies begin at 7:30.

Moonlight Cinema | More info

This cinema is perched in Synergy Parkland in Kings Park. Gates open at 6:30 and the nightly screenings start at 8. Adult tickets are $16, but only $12 on Wednesdays. There is a Candy Bar on site with food for sale, but BYO food and drink for picnics are welcome. Bean beds are also available for $8. Just get yours early – they run out fast!

Luna Outdoor | More info

The outdoor cinema at Palace Cinemas in Leederville is an intimate courtyard filled with canvas deckchairs and tables. The cinema often screens international and art house films. You’re welcome to bring your picnic food or order Outdoor Cinema Survival Packs (an assortment of dips, cheeses, crackers and olives). No BYO alcohol is permitted, but the cinema is fully licensed and offers a selection of wine and beer. Tickets start at $15.50 for the 8pm start.

Movies by Burswood | More info

Our only south-of-the-Swan pick is Movies by Burswood. Located within the grounds of the Burswood Entertainment Complex, this outdoor cinema offers a range of popular new releases. We especially love this cinema because it’s run by volunteers and ticket proceeds are donated to local children’s charities.

Roll the tape!

(Also published in Agenda)

There is so much happening in Fremantle this summer. The 106th annual Fremantle Festival has been a huge success, drawing people in from all corners of WA. But the festivities aren’t ending there.

Saturday marks the start of the much-anticipated Perth 2011 Worlds Festival. Running from 3-18 December, this festival coincides with the biggest international sailing event of the year, the Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships. The competition has attracted over 1200 athletes from 80 countries to Fremantle, whose performance will determine their qualification for the 2012 London Olympic Games.

The best of local Perth, West Australian and international artists and contributors have cooked up an awesome line up of entertainment and activities. The event’s theme of “where land meets the sea” is a celebration of West Australian culture and the sport of sailing. INXS will be opening the event followed by 250 free events for all ages.

The epicentre of the action will be the Worlds Village on the Esplanade Park in Freo. A main stage has been set up for music and other performances and presentations. Surrounding that are stalls for displays and demonstrations, as well as information about the countries competing in the Sailing World Championships. Food stalls will also be set up to feed the crowds.

Local Freo organisations have also joined in the spirit including Little Creatures Brewery, Kidogo Arthouse, Spare Parts Puppet Theatre and the Moores Building.

This event has provided Perth with a fantastic opportunity to showcase our beautiful corner of Australia to the world – so make sure you’re a part of it.

(Also published in Agenda)

Imagine getting all of your Christmas shopping finished in a single weekend, and a good three weeks before the big day. Too good to be true, you say? Au contraire.

This weekend is the three-day Bazaar11, an annual design and craft market that brings the work of the state’s best artists, designers, stylists, craftspeople and cooks to the picturesque grounds of the Fremantle Arts Centre.

For 3 blessed days, the Centre will be filled with stall upon stall of unique items capable of completing any shopper’s to-buy list. Wandering through the gardens, you’ll pass tables of one-of-a-kind clothing created by local designers. Any woman on your list would swoon over the scarves, tops and dresses.

For the art lover, pick up an original artwork by talented painters, sculptors and metal workers. Unique homewares like ceramic dishes and screen-printed tea towels would make a great gift for mum. Then again, you can’t go wrong with jewellery – in no short supply at Bazaar11.

Got a relative who’s a bit of a foodie? There are dozens of vendors selling locally produced olive oil, spreads and dips, as well as cupcakes and confectionary for those with a sweet tooth.

On the off chance that nothing catches your fancy, then duck into FOUND, the Fremantle Art Centre’s gift shop. Absolutely no one leaves empty-handed, so there’s guaranteed to be a gift for absolutely anyone. Get a hand-blown glass vase for Nan, a jarrah chess set for your uncle, a book about Fremantle culture and history for the history buff in your family, and handmade toys for the youngsters.

There, all done!

With all of your holiday shopping sorted you can get back to enjoying your weekends – and have a laugh at your friends who spend theirs inside crowded shopping centres. They’re sure to be at your side for Bazaar12.

(Also published in Agenda)

Think you’ve seen everything in Freo? Think again. This Saturday, the streets of Fremantle will be awash with tweed. A parade of dapper gentlemen and gentlewomen atop classic vintage bicycles will cruise from Leighton Beach to Clancy’s Fish Pub in a celebration of the humble bicycle.

Cyclists will don their best moustaches, flat caps, tailored suits, waistcoats, monocles, patent leather and suspenders for the short – yet impeccably stylish – 5k ride.

What began in London in 2009 as a good-natured nod to a bygone era has since spread around the world to Tokyo, Toronto, New York, San Francisco and Sydney. The quirky festival has been welcomed with open arms to ourwestern shores.

This will be Fremantle’s second Tweed Run, and the organisers are looking to top the success of last year’s inaugural event. The lawn behind Clancy’s Fish Pub will be filled with a circus featuring aerial performances by acrobats, fire-spitters and juggling clowns. The pub will be pouring drinks and music from DJ NORSE (of The Brow Horn Orchestra fame) will be setting the soundtrack to the day.

A market will be selling a little of everything from vintage clothes and wares to bicycles. It’s a great chance for you to stock up on everything you’ll need to knock the socks off the competition next year.

But for those who came prepared this year, however, the tweed competition will reward their valiant efforts. A panel of judges will crown the day’s best dressed – no small honour as it lasts an entire 365 days. What’s more, the gal deemed most Dashing Damsel and chap named most Dapper Chap will win Gazelle bicycles valued over $1000 each.

So why not raid Gramp’s and Gran’s retro wardrobe, borrow a friend’s rusty ride and get ye to Fremantle. It would be unseemly not to, really.

Mmmm…lasagne. Quite possibly the world’s most beloved dish. No wonder so many different countries lay claim to it. The British allege they found the recipe in a medieval cookbookused in the kitchens of Richard II in the 14th century. The Greek argue its name originates from the Greek word “lasagnum”, meaning dish or bowl. And as if pizza wasn’t enough, those persuasive Italians have moulded common knowledge to believe it’s all theirs.

All of this tug-of-warring has resulted in a multitude of versions of the dish. In fact, word is there are about 182 thousand ways to make lasagne.

Out to celebrate this variety – and maybe put an end to all of the bickering - is the Lilly Street Lasagne Bake-Off. What began 14 years ago as a good-natured argument over which neighbour’s recipe was best, has now turnedinto an annual competition attracting between 60-70 entries. For one day each November, hopefuls submit their finest lasagne dishes to a blind taste testing panel, who, by the end of the day, crown two winners: one for currentLilly Street residents, and one for the general public.

Some follow the traditional Italian method with fresh sheets of lasagne, nestled between alternating layers of ragú and béchamel sauce, topped with parmesan. Others take the American route of stuffing in as much cheese as possible. Attempting to catch the judges off-guard are the daring ones who submit Mexican lasagne or seafood lasagna. All entrants are wary of the Bake-Off veterans, such as three-time winners Giovanni and Maria de Cecco,whose lasagne is made entirely from their own vegetable patch.

So head on down and enjoy the street party vibe of the event, and sample dishes for yourself. Who knows, maybe it will inspire you to put forward your own lasagne recipe next year – and you could take home the Bake-Off 2012crown. Just promise to share the recipe with us!

West Australians love a good festival. Maybe it’s the chance to spend a sunny afternoon in good company, listening to live music and gorging on devilishlyunhealthy food stall fare. We reckon it’s that all-too-infrequent feeling of community that comes from sharing a good time with people of all ages.

WA’s festival season has well and truly begun with the arrival of the 106th annual Fremantle Festival, beginning this weekend and running for the nextthree weeks. With such an extensive line up, here’s Agenda’s top picks:

Coffee Festival | 20 November.
The abundance of cafes and coffee roasters in Freo does not make for an easy decision when the need for caffeine strikes. Thankfully, Freo’s best coffee makers will be setting up mobile coffee carts along the Cappuccino Strip to give festival goers samples of their brew. Beyond the opportunity to get seriously caffeinated, there’s plenty more on offer, such as the spaghetti eating competition, pitting the winners of past events against each other. Kids will go nuts at the Sticky Maze – constructed entirely of sticky tape!

George Street Festival | 27 November.
Now in its 20th year, the George Street Festival is the perfect reason to pay this quaint street a visit. A usually quiet lane dotted with independent fashion boutiques, beauty spas and gourmet cafes will become a bustling boulevard filled with street entertainers, food stalls, children’s activities and cooking demonstrations. The much-loved Artisan Market will feature handmade jewellery, accessories, homewares and skincare products.

Norfolk Lanes Youth Festival | 3 December.
For a taste of Australia’s hottest musical artists under the age of 25, check out Norfolk Lanes. The free event will take place on Norfolk Lane and X-Wray Café Fremantle and features an array of musical acts ranging from hip hop to folk and acoustic. Standout talent is WA’s own Grace Woodroofe and the gorgeous Brisbane-based artist Emma Louise.

Projections on High | 1-4 December.
Fremantle’s High Street will be illuminated for the last 4 nights of the Freo Festival thanks to local video artists Kat Black and Jasper Cook. The project integrates music and nautical-themed artwork into animated projectionssplashed on the outsides of Freo’s most beautiful historical buildings and insides of shop windows such as Love in Tokyo.

(Also published in Agenda)

If there’s one thing that Australia and Brazil have in common, it’s an unconditional love for BBQ. But while Aussies cook on Webers and Cordon Bleus over hotplates or charcoal, the Brazilians follow an age-old tradition of churrasco, which originated in the 18th century by the gauchos of southern Brazil. These cowboys, whose diet consisted entirely of beef, perfected the art of barbequing meat on skewers over hot embers. Churrasco is now hugely popular in most Latin American countries, and is served in churrascarias, where the servers move around the restaurant with skewers of meat, offering diners as much as they can eat.

Don’t worry, you don’t have to cross the ocean to experience churrasco. Boa Brazilian BBQ is WA’s first – and arguably best – churrascaria. It caters almost exclusively to carnivores. Hungry carnivores. While you can choose from an á la carte menu, most people opt for the all-you-can-eat meal with an endless supply of meat - from Brazilian kebab, Argentinian steak and pork ribs to lamb and South American Sausage. For the vegos in the group (if any were foolhardy enough to come along) there are delicious cheese balls, and side dishes such as black beans, potato salad and farofa – a popular Brazilian dish similar to cous cous.

Once you’ve had your fill, sit back and enjoy the other reason this restaurant is so popular: the nightly live performances. Girls dressed in very small traditional costumes shake their hips to the rhythm of the samba, an iconic Brazilian dance. But beware – the girls often invite unsuspecting diners to join in!

If you have any room to spare, order the degustation dessert which comprises a trio of Brazilian treats: chocolate brigadeiro (the Brazilian equivalent of a bonbon), brazil nut brigadeiro and doce de leite-caramel. Heavenly.

There, now you shouldn’t have to eat again for a week or so.

(Also published in Agenda)

Is it just us, or is summer taking its sweet little time arriving this year? We’re busting for summer, warm evenings spent unwinding over after-work drinks and al fresco meals.

Lucky for us all, the doors have opened to the perfect summer hangout. The Aviary, a sophisticated two-storey restaurant and bar in the centre of the CBD will have its official launch tomorrow.

Walking through the front door, you get a taste of the venue’s unique style. Aviaries and birdcages hang from the entrance, hummingbird carpet adorns the floors and the walls are wrapped in custom-made wallpaper.

With room for over 600 guests, The Aviary offers something for everybody. On level one is The Birdcage restaurant and circular lounge bar, whose floor-to-ceiling windows overlook Murray Street Mall and William Streetbelow.

Executive Chef Telina Menzies, who previously oversaw the kitchens of hotspots The George and The Byrneleigh, has designed simple, seasonal meals from locally sourced ingredients. Like us, you’ll be yearning to try the ginger and nori fried squid, porcini linguini or pea and broad bean risotto.

While the wine list offers affordable, albeit predictable choices, it’s the bird-inspired cocktail list that will have your mouth watering. Try the Woodpecker, a concoction made of Bombay gin, fresh orange and orange blossom water. Then there’s the Pink Flamingo combining Tanqueray, Cointreau, absinthe, passionfruit and Alize. Or how about the drink that is sure to become a summer staple, the Cockatoo Palace with gin, pomegranate, mint, limes and tonic.

After dinner, a visit to the vibrant and playful outdoor rooftop bar called The Nest is in order. Offering a bird’s eye view of Perth’s ever-changing skyline, The Nest is an open-air rooftop oasis complete with bowling green, trees,AstroTurf and decking.

Surely, there’s no better place to hang out under the stars this summer.

When brothers Daniel and Lawrence Bahk decided to leave the nest – which for them took the form of their family Japanese restaurant Midori in Northbridge – it was go big or go home. They found a business partner, one of the city’s most sought-after addresses, hired a team of designers, artists and architects and imported world-class chefs from Korea and Melbourne.

The result is the gorgeous new Japanese eatery Shiro Izakaya Restaurant. Perched on southern edge of Central Park and flanked by Perth’s premier corporate office buildings is this delectably designed space. A modern, minimalist design features unique touches like sake bottle-shaped light fixtures, dark wood walls and tables fitted with embedded lights. Place settings are stylish and classy – you won’t find disposable wooden chopsticks at Shiro. Most impressive are those floor-to-ceiling windows that can be completely opened to maximise the view of Central Park’s verdant oasis and invite the summer breeze inside.

Lunchtime brings throngs to the exterior counter for takeaway meals, and dine-ins to the window-facing benchtop while the dinner rush attracts those looking for a more leisurely meal, or if in a larger group, to the 18-person table upstairs.

The menu is styled after the “Izakaya” of Japan, bars serving drinks and tapas-style food shared at the table. Shiro adds a WA spin by using only the freshest of seafood from the Indian Ocean and locally raised meat. Cold dishes like sashimi, sushi and salads attest to the quality of the produce and innovation of the kitchen. Our favourite is The Rolls Royce – devilishly good sushi with crab, diced prawn tempura, unagi and cucumber, topped with tiered apple sauce, teriyaki sauce and Japanese mayonnaise.

Equally delicious is the Ocean’s 5 sashimi with melt-in-your-mouth salmon, lemon-spritzed scallops and the hard-to-come-by yellow-fin tuna. Hot dishes include braised fish, yakitori skewers and even Wagyu steak. Japanese tipple-lovers will rejoice at the news of Shiro’s selection of 14 different sakes but there’s wine and beer too.

The Bahk brothers have definitely outdone themselves. And aren’t we lucky.

(Also published in Agenda)

In Perth, small bar licences are never squandered – they’re much too hard to come by. Nowhere is this more evident than at the city’s newest small bar, Frisk Espresso in Northbridge.

Once merely known to caffeine fiends for its fresh coffee and cupcakes, Frisk is now catering to a wider post-work clientele looking for a relaxed place to unwind. Just around the corner from the Northbridge action, yet sheltered from any rowdiness.

Besides inspiring a new menu and trading hours, the new licence has given owner Michael Cheang the opportunity to renovate the space in an environmentally responsible way, using second hand furniture and décor made from salvaged materials. Frisk’s tables are made from discarded and distressed siding, its lampshades from recycled plastic water containers and its stools from reused oil drums.

Enveloping the intimate space are walls adorned with the spray-painted stylings of the aerosol artists behind Perth-based The Graphite Crew. But don’t expect their artwork to last long. Cheang intends for the walls to change constantly, featuring the work of different local artists. Just to keep Frisk’s interior fresh.

Not that you’d visit Frisk for ambiance alone. A new bar food menu is in the works with nibbles like bread with dips, grilled chorizoand salted nuts. Frisk also welcomes the hungry to order a burger from the neighboring Lacker’s Grill, who deliver straight to your booth in Frisk.

And to wash it all down? We nearly forgot to mention Frisk’s brand spanking new – and stocked to the gills – bar with an impressive selection of boutique beer, cider, West Australian wines, premium spirits and healthy cocktails.

So next time you’re in the area, but not in the mood for the raucous club scene, duck into the spray-painted refuge of Frisk Espresso.

(Also published in Agenda)

There comes a moment before every Friday night out with friends when the collective thirst for start-of-the-weekend drinks has been adequately satisfied and panicked hunger takes over – followed by that inescapable argument over where to eat.

One of you wants Italian, someone else feels like a burger, a couple of others feel like kebabs and you’re dying for sushi. The larger the group, the longer the argument.

Not to worry. We promise it’s going to be different tonight. Why? Because tonight is the first of a series of Friday night Twilight Hawkers Markets happening in Forrest Place.

Following immense success when first trialled earlier in the year as part of Eat Drink Perth, the City of Perth has decided the markets should run all summer long, taking advantage of the city’s warm summer nights and burgeoning culinary scene.

With international food vendors of every kind, everyone can gratify their own individual craving. A wander through the rows of market stalls will bring you face-to-face with cuisine from all over the globe. Jostling for your nose’s attention will be the aromas of Indonesian chicken satays with chunky peanut sauce, Spanish paella packed with chicken and seafood, Colombian pork and lime empanadas with fresh guacamole, steaming Turkish gozlemes and spicy Moroccan tagines. Just to name a few.

Once you’ve each made your choice, your crew can kick back and enjoy the free live music and roving entertainment which will vary each week, promising to feature some of the state’s best talent. Just be sure to get there early – the market only runs from 5-8pm.

So for a Friday night that will have your tastebuds singing and your friendships intact, head to the Twilight Hawkers Markets.

(Also published in Agenda)

WA’s pole dancing elite are putting their moves on display. Shhh… don’t tell the Queen!

No longer confined to gentleman’s clubs and strip joints, pole dancing has become the exercise trend du jour, promising to build inner core strength, improve flexibility and increase endurance. Believe it or not, even guys are giving it a, um, whirl.

But that’s not all. The International Pole Sports Federation, a committee made up of industry professionals from around the world, are aiming to have pole sports included as a competitive event at the Olympic Games. Yep – one day there might even be medals for this.

To do so, the Federation is doing its darndest to promote the sport around the world – and it’s Perth’s turn to blush next. Following the success of last year’s inaugural event, The West Australian Pole Performance Showcase (WAPPS) is set to take centre stage at Eve nightclub tomorrow night.

The WAPPS offers spectators the opportunity to learn more about the art of pole sports. Perhaps you’ve always wondered about moves like the Superman Spin, Gemini Handstand, Bouncing Boomerang or Hummingbird?

Ok, perhaps not. In any case, these moves and more will be demonstrated by some of the region’s best performers, such as Tammy Baxter. This local pole dancing instructor recently competed in the semi-finals at the International Pole World Cup in Rio de Janero, Brazil and will be among the twelve performers sharing skills at the Showcase.

So move aside Zumba – there’s a new kid in town.

(Also published in Agenda)

In today’s world of mass production, the idea of buying objects made by local artists and craft makers is a novel one. You might stumble upon one or two pieces in Perth’s indie boutiques, but only one shop boasts the state’s largest collection of WA-made objects, fashion, gifts and homewares: FOUND.

Open seven days a week and located within the lush grounds of the historic Fremantle Arts Centre, FOUND is a shop like no other. Manager Carolyn Gorman has packed every nook of the shop with a gorgeous collection of treasures.

For the fashionistas in search of that unique outfit-completing piece, there are hand-printed silk scarves by Marlene Page, one-of-a-kind jewellery in precious metals and gemstones by jewelers Stuart Penny and Marcus Synnot, and quirky clothes by designers Angela Ferolla and Georgina Cresswell. We love the vegetable-dyed leather bags by Henk Berg.

Is that empty space on your lounge wall crying out to be adorned? Prints by French-born and Freo-based artist Magali Dincher would work a treat. Maybe you’re looking for that special touch for your next dinner party? FOUND sells a great selection of table linen, utensils bowls and mugs. We especially love the irony-laced range of glasses made to look like discarded disposable plastic cups.

With the number of unique objects on the shelves of FOUND, there’s guaranteed to be a gift for absolutely anyone. A porcelain tea set for Nan? A jarra chopping board for the budding master chef? A book about Fremantle culture and history for the Freo local in your family? Or how about handmade toys for the kids?

Shopping has quite possibly never been so easy.

(Also published in Agenda)